New Jersey Condo and Co-op Structural Inspections
Inspections of the primary load bearing system, starting within 15 years of the certificate of occupancy.
What the Program Requires
Residential condominium and cooperative buildings with a concrete, masonry, steel or hybrid load bearing system, including buildings with podium decks. Certain structures are excluded; see the law.
An initial inspection within 15 years of the certificate of occupancy or 60 days after observable damage, whichever is earlier. The report sets the next inspection, no more than 10 years later, and inspections after that are no more than five years apart.
A structural inspector, which the law defines to require an engineer licensed by the State
The primary load bearing system, including the foundation and any connected or attached balconies
The Details That Matter
The report must set out required maintenance or repairs, set the date of the next inspection, go to the municipal appointing authority, the construction official and the enforcing agency, and follow the American Society of Civil Engineers protocol for structural condition assessment or a similar nationally recognized protocol.
Before You Take This Work
- Professional liability policies define the services they cover. Check that yours describes inspection and report work accurately, not only design, and tell your agent roughly how much of your revenue comes from this work.
- Condominium work can be excluded or limited on some professional liability policies. Check for a condo exclusion or sublimit before taking these inspections.
Official sources
Every fact on this page comes from these sources, read in October 2026. Laws change; read the current text before relying on it.
General information, not legal advice or a statement of coverage. Laws and local rules change; read the current text at the source links and confirm requirements with the building department. Whether a policy responds depends on its wording and the facts. Hardcover is an insurance agency, not a law firm.
Doing This Work? Let’s Check Your Coverage.
We check that your policy describes the inspection work you actually do, before a report is questioned.